Eli J. Finkel

Eli J. Finkel is a Professor of Psychology at Northwestern University's Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences and a Professor of Management & Organizations at the Kellogg School of Management. He serves as the Morton O. Schapiro Fellow at the Institute for Policy Research, founding co-director of the Center for Enlightened Disagreement, and director of the Relationships and Motivation Lab (RAMLAB). His research focuses on romantic relationships, interpersonal conflict, self-control processes, and American political polarization. Finkel has published over 170 scientific papers and authored the bestselling book The All-or-Nothing Marriage.

Education: PhD (2001) and MA (1999) in Social & Quantitative Psychology from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; BA (1997) in Psychology from Northwestern University (Magna Cum Laude).

Research Interests:
1. Interpersonal Attraction: Examines dating innovations (e.g., speed-dating, online platforms) and their impact on relationship initiation.
2. Interpersonal Conflict: Studies forgiveness dynamics, conflict escalation, and intervention strategies.
3. Self-Control: Investigates how relationships influence self-regulation and goal pursuit.
4. Political Behavior: Explores partisan animosity, ideological conflict, and societal polarization.

Recent work highlights gender-neutral patterns in romantic attraction, the role of shared finances in marital quality, and interventions to reduce political hostility. His research has been featured in The New York Times, Science, and Harvard Business Review.

Awards:

• Daniel M. Wegner Theoretical Innovation Prize (2016)
• Weinberg College Distinguished Teaching Award
• Fellow, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (2004)
• Short-listed finalist for 2022 HBR Prize

Labs & Teams: Directs RAMLAB and co-leads the Center for Enlightened Disagreement. Active in cross-disciplinary collaborations addressing relationship science and societal challenges.